Internal combustion engine



30, 1932. A. M. NlVEN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 50, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet I ATTORNEY.

Ailg. 30, 1932. M; NlvEN I 1,874,337

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 50, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY g A TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES. PATENT-OFFICE ARCHIE MACPHAIL' NIvEN, or DETROIT,

MICHIGAN, assIeNon T0 CONTINENTAL Morons CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AconronA IoN OF VIRGINIA INTERNAL COMBUSTiIOhl ENGINE Application filed January so, 1928. Serial No. 2'5o,s69.

This invention rela-tesito internal combustion engines and refers more particularly to sleeve valve and like types ofengines.

One object of my invention resides in an engine construction wherein the sleeve valve mechanism is carried by the cylinder block as distinguished from the crank case. Thus in assembling or removing 1 the cylinder blockthe sleeve valve mechanism including the sleeve valves and driving layshaft re-' main assembled with the cylinder block. The relative timing ofrthe sleeve valves is thus not disturbed and the cylinder walls, pistons, and other of the engine parts are more reaclilyaccessible for inspection or repair.

7 A further feature of my invention resides in a construction whereby the layshaft may be readilyengaged and disengaged with relation to the layshaft driving mechanism.

A still further feature of my invention resides in a sleeve valve mechanism supporting means engageable with the cylinder block on oneside' of the longitudinal plane ofthe engine including the cylinder axes; Such construction provides for simplicity, convenience of assembly or "disassembly,.and relatively small cost: of manufacture. V

Further objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent as the" following description and claims relating. to my invention progress. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation view through a typical cylinder showing the sleeve valve driving mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan sectional view through the layshaft, and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View ofthe layshaft supporting bracket.

In the drawings A'represents the cylinder block having ported cylinders 10, cylinder heads .11, and pistons 13,.all of which parts may in general be of the usual or other pre-' ferred suitable construction.

The engine illustrated is of the single sleeve valve Burt-McCollum type in which a ported single sleeve valve 14 has a combined reciprocating and oscillating movement with respect to the sleeve and cylinder axes. f

The crankcase B has a bearing 15.journal ling the layshaft drive shift 16 provided-with suitable means driven bythe crankshaft such asthe gear 1' 7 The layshaft 18 is driven lov shaft16 through an Oldhain coupling 17 a or other coupling permitting ready engagement and disengagement of the shafts 16 and 18 on assembly or disassembly ofthe cylinder block. Thelayshaft is journalled at intervals in bearings 19 carried by the bracket formed withan upper face 20 engageable beneath the laterally projecting portion 21 of the cylinder block A.. Studs 22 passing through bracket openings 22? serve to hold bracket Gin its assembledposition as shown in Fig.- 1. The bearin gs 19 have bearing caps j 23 secured thereto bystuds 24 engageable through bosses, 25 formed on bearings 19 and caps 23.

The layshaft 18 spaced ball cranks 26 receiving socket. portions of links 27 .pivotally 7 connected at 28to and between the laterally projecting sleeve valvelugs29. y

; In operation the shaft 16 will drive the layshaftlS which in turn moves the links 27 so as to cause the link to occupy successive parallel positions. Thuseachsleeve valve is given a combined reciprocating and oscillat .ing movement causing thesleeve and cylinder ports to function in thewell known manner. On removal of the, cylinder block for example, thelayshaft 18, links 27,-sleeve valves I 1.1An engine of the sleeve valve type com prising in combination, a cylinder block,

'14, and'bracket C will also be removed as a sleeve valve means operable within the cylinder block, driving mechanism for the sleeve ing mechanism maybe removedas a unit with the cylinder block from the crankcase construction.

2. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder block,

*sleeve valve means operable within the cylconstruction beneaththe cylinder block hous-H ing the driving mechanismpdriving means for the layshaft, means jonrnalling the lay,- shaft with the cylinder block, and a coupling device between the laysh'aftand layshaft driving means whereby the I layshaft and driving mechanism may be removed as a unit with the cylinder block from the crankcase construction, said layshaft driving means being journalled in the crankcase construction.

3. An engine of the-sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder block, sleeve valve means operable within the cylinder block, driving mechanism for the sleeve valve means including a layshaft positioned to one side of the longitudinal plane of the engine including the sleeve'axes, a crank case construction beneath the cylinder block housing the driving mechanism, drivin means for the layshaft, means journalling. the layshaft with the cylinder block, and a coupling device within the crankcase construction between the layshaft and layshaft driving means whereby the layshaft and driving mechanism may be removed as a unit with the cylinder block from the crankcase construction.

4. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder block, sleeve valve means operable within the cylinder block, driving mechanism for the sleeve valve means including. a lay shaft positioned 'to one side of the longitudinal plane of the engine including the sleeve axes,a crank case construction beneath the cylinder block housing the driving mechanism, and means journalling the layshaft with the cylinder block whereby the layshaft and driving. mechanism may be removed as a unit with the cylinder block from the crank case construction, a

\ bracket secured beneath the cylinder block andlocated to one side of the longitudinalplane of the'eng'ine including the sleeve axes, said bracketourn'alling the layshaft, a drive shaft for the layshaft, and a coupling device between the drive shaft and layshaft.

' 5". A sleeve valve engine comprising a cylinder block, single. sleeve valves movable within said block in a combined reciprocating and oscillating path, a layshaft extending longitudinallyot the engine to one, side of the sleeve valves, a crankcase structure housing the layshaft, said layshaft having spaced cranks, links connecting, the layshaft cranks and sleeve valves tangentially with the latter for imparting the aforesaid movement to the layshaft, said layshaft having spaced ,cranks, links connecting the layshaft cranks and sleeve valves tangentially with the latter for imparting the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, and means journalling and supporting the layshaft from and beneath the cylinder block, said journallingand supporting means being positioned above the layshaft and extending longitudinally of the engine at the said side of the sleeve valves, said means engaging the layshaft intermediate the spaced cranks.

7:. A- sleeve valve engine comprising a cylinder block, single sleeve valves movable within said block in a combined reciprocating and oscillating path, a layshaft extending longitudinally of the engine to one side of the sleeve valves, a crankcase structure housing the layshaft, said layshaft having spaced cranks, links connecting the layshaft cranks and sleeve valves tangentially with the latter for imparting the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, means journalling and supporting the layshaft from and beneath the cylinder block, a drive shaft journalled in the crank case structure, said means engaging the layshaft intermediate the spaced cranks, and a coupling device between the drive shaft and layshaft.

8. A sleeve valve engine comprising a cylinder block, single sleeve valves movable within said block in a combined reciprocating and oscillating path, a layshaft extending longitudinally of the engine to one side, of the sleeve valves, a crankcase structure housing thev layshaft, said layshaft having spaced cranks, links connecting the layshatt cranks and sleeve valves tangentially with the latter for imparting the aforesaid movement to the sleeve valves, means journalling and supporting the laysha'ft from and beneath the cylinder block, said journalling and supporting means engaging the layshat't intermediate the spaced cranks and being positioned above the layshaft and extending lon gitudinally of the engine at the said side of the sleeve valves, a drive shaft journalled in the crank case structure, and a coupling device betweenthe drive shaftand layshaft.

9. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder block, sleeve valve means operable within the cylinder block, sleeve valve operating mechanism, means driving the sleeve valve operat- 7 ing mechanism, means ournalhng and supporting said sleeve valve operating mecha-V nism with the cylinder block, a crank case structure, and coupling means between the sleeve Valve operating mechanism and the driving means releasable on relative separation of the cylinder block and crank case structure. a

10. An engine comprising in combination, a cylinder block, valve means for the engine carried by the cylinder block, valve operating mechanism, means driving the valve operating mechanism, means supporting the valve operating mechanism with the cylinder block, a crank case structure, and coupling means bet-ween the valve operating'mechanism and driving means releasable on relative separation of the cylinder block and crank case structure. r

11. An engine comprising in combination with engine valve means and a crankshaft, a cylinder block structure, a casing structure separate from the cylinder block structure, a layshaft journalled with said cylinder block structure means on the layshaft for actuating the valve means, an element adapted to drive the layshaft, said element being journalled with said casing structure actuatin means intermediate the crankshaft and said element for driving the element and layshaft from the crankshaft, and coupling means for the layshaft intermediate said element and said layshaft valve actuating means.

12. An engine comprising in combination with engine valve means and a crankshaft, a cylinder block structure, a casing structure separate from said cylinder block structure, a layshaft journalled with said cylinder block structure, means on the layshaft for actuating the valve means, an element adapt- ARCHIE MACPHAIL NIVEN.

ed to drive the layshaft, said element being a divided layshaft, coupling means for the layshaft divisions, and means for ournalling said layshaft divisions in said structures respectively.

14. An engine comprising a cylinder block, valve means for the engine, a crank case structure, valve actuating means including a layshaft carried by the cylinder block and housed by the crank case structure, and a drive shaft for the layshaft mounted in the crank case structure.

15. An engine comprising a cylinder block, valve means for the engine, a crank case 

